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But these days, a lot of stuff that seems obvious still needs saying. So here goes: It is time for us to retire the use of the words "retarded" and "retard" in referring to people we think are not particularly bright. Or in reference to, say, a political system we don't care for.

I bring this up because the Buncombe County GOP, under the direction of Chairman Carl Mumpower, used the word "retarded" in referring to socialism in a post last week on party's website.

It can be read with the second sentence first, as it's a scroll and neither sentence has a period. But that's not the point.

The point is, why toss around the word "retarded" at all? Yes, I know Republicans like to disparage liberals as being mentally deficient, and Democrats like to do the same to conservatives.

But here in the 21st century, the words "retarded" and "retard" have taken on a pejorative, mean-spirited tone that most people realize makes them unacceptable to use.

Honestly, I had not seen Mumpower's latest misstep until Buncombe County school board member Amy Churchill, also a Republican, posted about it on Facebook.

"As an elected official representing ALL children of this community, I vehemently object to the use of a derogatory term long since banished as offensive to mentally challenged individuals," she wrote. "I contacted the chair of the BCGOP to ask him to replace the icon, but he saw no reason to do so."

Amy Churchill(Photo: Courtesy Photo)

Churchill added that the leadership of the county GOP does not speak for her.

"The stigma of mental retardation has no place in today's society, especially coming from a psychologist who should (know) better," Churchill wrote. "Buncombe County Republicans, WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS!!!"

I called Churchill to follow up, and she said Mumpower was dismissive with her, saying she was being politically correct. She thinks he simply used the word in the scrolling graphic for "shock value."

"When you choose to use descriptions like that, that have been historically unacceptable, you lose your message," Churchill said. "I get where he's making a call against socialism and that’s fine, but other words could’ve been used effectively to get the point across without being insensitive."

That's hard to argue. "Idiotic" or "stupid" or "reckless" would've worked just fine.

But when I talked to Mumpower about it, he doubled down.

"I regret that a fellow Republican and I have a different take on what matters and what doesn't," Mumpower said. "The purpose of the post was to reflect on the dangers of those who would sell socialism as a positive replacement for America's traditional success equation."

That would be capitalism, in case you're wondering.

Mumpower maintains the use of the word "retarded" was "an incidental inclusion in a borrowed graphic." The graphic is attributed to the person who built it, while Mumpower's byline is on his commentary below it.

Still, Mumpower sees no reason to remove or replace the graphic.

"I wouldn’t have done it at her request anyway, because I thought it was a misplaced investment of energy," he said, adding that the Republican Party is attempting to build itself "around positive and proactive efforts to uphold our values."

"Political correctness is not one of those," he said. "I find it fascinating how we get obsessed about language and ignore realities. If you look up the dictionary definition, it doesn’t speak to developmentally disabled people, specifically. It specifically refers to impaired cognitive function."

Merriam-Webster lists the definition of "retarded" as: "slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development: characterized by mental retardation."

It also includes this notation: "sometimes offensive."

The people I know who have children with Down syndrome will tell you they find the words offensive. Their children are the brightest lights in their lives, and they bring more to the world than the world will ever give them.

Their mental abilities are irrelevant.

These parents are stung by the use of the word. I'll add "libtard" in as well, as I always cringe when I see someone using that as a dig on liberals.

A former colleague of mine, Dina Cappilllo, and her husband, Daniel Niblock, have a delightful boy named Ozzie who has Down syndrome.

They live in Durham, and I keep up with them on Facebook. Their posts about Ozzie, 9, and his various adventures in life always make me smile.

In 2012, when nationally known conservative commentator Ann Coulter tossed around the words "retard" and "retarded" in describing Obama supporters, Niblock took her to task, with a combination of righteous anger and eloquence that really stuck with me.

"Let's get started by laying out two fundamental truths about the use of the word 'retard,'" Niblock wrote. "1. Almost every one of us is guilty of saying it at some point in our lives. Even parents of kids with special needs (although I can guarantee you that every parent of a special needs child stopped saying it when his child was born). 2. It is hurtful and it is wrong."

I'll confess here that I have used these words myself, in part because when I was growing up it was accepted. As they have edged into unacceptable territory, I've still used them on occasion. I know I need to do better, to remove them from my vocabulary, because, yes, it's hurtful and wrong.

Niblock went on to note that if he starts "World War III" every time he hears it, "I'm going to miss out on some meaningful relationships with some otherwise great people." So he cuts the Average Joe some slack, partly because disability "hasn't ever really impacted Average Joe's life."

"Joe doesn't have to go to Individual Education Plan meetings. He doesn't have to trade emails with the speech therapist. He doesn't have to buy thousand-dollar foot orthotics or play back the phone message from the heart surgeon five times or install chain locks in his house to keep little Joe Jr. from slipping out and wandering off. Average Joe doesn't wonder if his child will ever have a girlfriend or a job or even the ability to speak clearly one day."

Niblock also speaks for many parents of Down syndrome kids when he says some people chide him about the word, suggesting he should "lighten up."

But he's not overreacting or being hypersensitive. As a parent of a child whose life is going to tough enough, he's just asking for basic decency and consideration.

"It is hurtful and it is wrong. If you cannot accept that simple statement, you are guilty of willful ignorance," Niblock writes.

Here's the bottom line for Churchill — and I'll add that she sums it up for me, as well.

"It doesn’t hurt to be kind," she said. "What would have been the big deal to take it out, to put something else in place by using a different adjective? How about let’s just use some good manners for a change?"

This is the opinion of John Boyle. Contact him at 828-232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com.